Print manager device, printer, print manager program

ABSTRACT

Systems, apparatus, and methods are provide to prevent mismatches in processing and settings related to print media. A print manager device includes a media print information storage storing media print information, which is information relating image processing information used to generate print data for a specific print medium with print settings information used to print on the print medium. The image processing information and the print settings information are relationally stored to each printer configured to print based on the print data according to the print settings information. A processor that controls communication. The processor can send the image processing information stored in the media print information storage relationally to a print medium specified by media selection information to an image processing device that generates print data and can send the print settings information stored in the media print information storage to the printer.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims priority to Japanese Patent ApplicationNo. 2016-215980, filed Nov. 4, 2016, which is incorporated by referenceherein.

BACKGROUND 1. Technical Field

Embodiments of the present invention relate to a print manager deviceand/or to a printer.

2. Related Art

In a print processing system configured to print on print media, theprinting device (e.g., a printer) that executes the process of actuallyprinting on the print media, and the image processing device thatexecutes the process of generating the print data enabling the printerto print, are often different devices. For example, the print data istypically generated by a computer embodying the image processing device,and the printer receives the print data from the computer and executesthe printing process. This type of system is widely used in the largeformat printer (LFP) field.

Printer driver programs that generate print data for forming imagesappropriately with respect to the orientation and type of print mediumloaded in the paper supply device for supplying the print medium usedfor printing have also been developed. See, for example,JP-A-2010-102398.

In order to complete the printing process and obtain high qualityprinting results in this type of system, the type of print mediumregistered in the image processing device and the type of print mediumthe printer prints on must match. However, because image processing andconfiguring settings to match the print media are handled separately oneach of these devices, there is no assurance that the image processingand configuration processes will relate to the same print medium.

SUMMARY

Embodiments of the present invention are directed to the foregoingproblem, and provide a print manager device, printing device, printmanager program, and image processing program that help preventmismatched settings and processing of print media, and that enableacquiring high quality printed products.

One aspect of the invention relates to a print manager device thatincludes a media print information storage unit storing media printinformation. The media print information, for example, is informationthat relates image processing information required to generate printdata for a specific print medium to print settings information requiredto print on the print medium. The media print information is storedrelationally to each printer configured to print based on the print dataaccording to the print settings information. The print manager devicemay also include a processor that controls communication. The processorcan send the image processing information stored in the media printinformation storage unit relationally to a print medium specified bymedia selection information to an image processing device that generatesprint data. The processor can send the print settings information storedin the media print information storage unit to the printer.

Thus comprised, image processing information corresponding to the printmedium specified by the media selection information is applied from orby the print manager device to the image processing device, and printsettings information is applied to from or by the print manager deviceto the printer. As a result, a mismatch between the image processinginformation the image processing uses to generate the print data, andthe print settings information the printer uses to print based on theprint data (a mismatch between corresponding print media) can be easilyavoided, and printouts with good quality can therefore be produced.

When the media selection information is input, the processor may sendthe image processing information stored in the media print informationstorage unit relationally to the print medium specified by the mediaselection information to the image processing device. The processor mayalso send the print settings information stored in the media printinformation storage unit relationally to the print medium specified bythe media selection information to the printer that receives mediaselection information and the print data generated by the imageprocessing device.

This configuration can reliably prevent a mismatch between imageprocessing information the image processing device uses to generateprint data, and the print settings information the printer uses to printbased on print data.

In another aspect of the invention, the print settings informationstored by the media print information storage unit includes printsettings information after editing.

This configuration enables the user to desirably edit the print settingsinformation stored in the media print information storage unit. Theprint settings information stored by the media print information maystore both the unedited print settings information and the edited printsettings information.

In another aspect of the invention, the print manager device may includean editing unit that receives edits of the print settings information.The print manager device can update the print settings informationstored by the media print information storage unit according to theprint settings information that was edited by the editing unit.

This configuration enables the user to desirably edit the print settingsinformation stored in the media print information storage unit byoperating the print manager device.

In another aspect of the invention, the processor stores the printsettings information stored for each printer in the media printinformation storage unit in the corresponding printer.

This configuration enables the printer to configure print settings andto print on the print medium using print settings information stored onthe printer.

In another aspect of the invention, the processor synchronizes the printsettings information stored for each printer in the media printinformation storage unit, and the print settings information stored oneach printer.

This configuration can match the print settings information the printmanager device stores relationally to the printer, and the printsettings information stored by the printer.

In this configuration, the processor synchronizes the print settingsinformation by sending to and storing on the printer the print settingsinformation that were edited on the media print information storageunit. Alternatively, the processor synchronizes the print settingsinformation by acquiring the print settings information edited on theprinter from the printer, and storing the edited print settingsinformation in the media print information storage unit.

In another aspect of the invention, the media print information storageunit stores the image processing information and the print settingsinformation relationally to each printer and to each print medium theprinter can use.

When image processing information and print settings information arestored for each of a large number of print media, this configuration canappropriately store the image processing information and print settingsinformation required for the print media used by individual printers.

In another aspect of the invention, the media print information storageunit stores the image processing information and the print settingsinformation relationally to each printer, to each print medium theprinter can use, and to each print mode that can be used for printing.

This configuration can appropriately store the image processinginformation and print settings information required for the specificcombinations of print media and print modes each printer can use.

In another aspect of the invention, the media print information storageunit stores an identifier (such as an identification number), and theprocessor uses the identifier as the media selection information.

By using an identifier (identification number) when exchanginginformation with the image processing device and printer, the printmanager device can easily and reliably identify the target print mediumand supply the required information.

In another aspect of the invention, the processor can access a specificserver through a public telecommunication network or other network(e.g., the Internet, LAN, WAN, or the like or combination thereof), andcan acquire, and store in the media print information storage unit, thedesired media print information from among the media print informationthe server stores for each print medium.

This configuration enables the print manager device to acquire andstore, through the Internet or other public telecommunication network,the desired media print information from the media print information theserver stores for a large number of types of print media.

In another aspect of the invention, the processor, when media selectioninformation and printer selection information specifying a printer areinput from the image processing device, sends image processinginformation to the image processing device. The image processinginformation is stored in the media print information storage unitrelationally to the printer specified by the printer selectioninformation and to the print medium specified by the media selectioninformation.

When the print manager device manages multiple printers, and storesmedia print information for each of the multiple printers, thisconfiguration enables the image processing information the imageprocessing device requires to be appropriately supplied to the imageprocessing device.

In another aspect of the invention, the print manager device is embodiedon a cloud server, and communicates through a public telecommunicationnetwork or other network such as the Internet with the image processingdevice and printer.

Because the media print information storage unit resides on a cloudserver in this configuration, the same print settings information can beeasily supplied to multiple printers, and the integrity of the printsettings information can be protected even when a problem occurs on aprinter.

In another aspect of the invention, the print manager device and imageprocessing device are embodied in a common housing, and communicate withthe printer through a public telecommunication network or localcommunication connection or other network connection.

In this configuration, the print manager device and the image processingdevice are embodied in a single device. Furthermore, by connecting theprinter to the print manager device through a local (direct) connection,the security of the printer can be improved.

The technical concept of the invention can also be embodied in formsother than a print manager device. For example, the printer describedabove can be can be an embodiment of the invention.

Another aspect of the invention is a printer that includes a processorthat controls communication, and a print processing unit that printsprint data using settings defined by print settings information. Theprint settings information is required to print on a print medium. Theprocessor acquires media selection information specifying a printmedium, and print data generated for the print medium specified by themedia selection information. The processor also acquires the printsettings information corresponding to the print medium specified by themedia selection information. The print processing unit prints using thesettings defined by the acquired print settings information.

In this configuration, the printer receives media selection informationand print data generated for the print medium specified by the mediaselection information, and acquires print settings informationcorresponding to the print medium specified by the media selectioninformation. As a result, a mismatch between the print medium to whichthe print data corresponds, and the print medium to which the printsettings information used for printing based on the print datacorresponds, does not occur, and printouts with high print quality canbe produced as a result.

In another aspect of the invention, the printer also has a printsettings information storage that stores the print settings informationstored by an external management device. The print processing unitacquires print settings information corresponding to the print mediumspecified by the media selection information from the print settingsinformation storage, and prints based on the received print data by orin accordance with the settings in the acquired print settingsinformation.

Thus comprised, the printer configures print settings appropriate to theprint medium specified by the media selection information using printsettings information stored in the print settings information storage ofthe printer, and prints on the print medium.

In another aspect of the invention, the printer also has an editing unitthat receives edits of the print settings information. The printer orediting unit may also update the print settings information stored bythe print settings information storage according to the edited printsettings information.

This configuration enables the user, by operating the printer, todesirably edit the print settings information stored in the printsettings information storage.

In another aspect of the invention, the processor of the printersynchronizes the print settings information stored by the managementdevice, and the print settings information stored in the print settingsinformation storage.

This configuration can match print settings information the managementdevice stores relationally to printers, with the print settingsinformation stored by the corresponding printer.

The processor of the printer in this configuration can synchronize theprint settings information by sending to and storing on the managementdevice the edited print settings information in the print settingsinformation storage. Alternatively, the processor of the printersynchronizes the print settings information by acquiring the printsettings information edited on the management device from the managementdevice, and storing the edited print settings information in the printsettings information storage.

In another aspect of the invention, the processor of the printerreceives print data that includes print mode selection informationspecifying the print mode to use when printing, and the print processingunit prints in the print mode specified by the print mode selectioninformation.

In this configuration, the printer can print using the print settingscorresponding to the print mode specified by the print mode selectioninformation contained in the received print data.

Embodiments of the invention may include an image processing device.Embodiments of the invention may include a system including two or moreof a print manager device, an image processing device, and a printer.Embodiments of the invention may also methods. The methods may includethe steps executed by the print manager device, image processing device,and printer. The methods maybe embodied as programs causing the printmanager device, image processing device, and printer to execute thesteps. The methods may be embodied as a computer-readable,non-transitory storage medium storing the programs.

One example is a print manager program that causes a computer to executeprocesses related to print management, including a storage function forstoring media print information, which is information relating imageprocessing information required to generate print data for a specificprint medium to print settings information required to print on theprint medium, relationally to each printer in a storage unit. Theprocesses related to print management may also include a communicationcontrol function controlling communication. The communication controlfunction can send the image processing information to an imageprocessing device that generates print data and can send the printsettings information stored in the storage unit to the printer.

Embodiments of the invention can also include an image processingprogram that causes a computer to execute a process generating printdata. The process of generating print data may include an acquisitionfunction of acquiring image processing information corresponding to aspecified print medium from a management device that stores imageprocessing information required to generate print data for various printmedia; a print data generating function of generating print data for thespecified print medium based on the acquired image processinginformation, and a transmission function of sending, to a printer, mediaselection information indicating the specified print medium, and thegenerated print data.

Other objects and attainments together with a fuller understanding ofthe invention will become apparent and appreciated by referring to thefollowing description and claims taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an example configuration of a printprocessing system.

FIG. 2 illustrates an example structure of a media table.

FIG. 3 illustrates an example of the structure of image processinginformation.

FIG. 4 shows an example of a user interface.

FIG. 5 shows an example of a downloading screen.

FIG. 6 shows an example of an editor.

FIG. 7 shows an example of a print settings information table on theprinter.

FIG. 8 is an example flow chart of a print data generating process ofthe image processing device.

FIG. 9 is an example flow chart of a printing process of the printer.

FIG. 10 is an example flow chart of a printing process of the printeraccording to the second example of the invention.

FIG. 11 shows an example of an image processing information table of theimage processing device.

FIG. 12 is an example flow chart of the print data generating process ofthe image processing device according to a third example of theinvention.

FIG. 13 is a block diagram of the configuration another example ofanother print processing system.

FIG. 14 is a block diagram of the configuration another example of yetanother print processing system.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Embodiments of the present invention are described below with referenceto the accompanying figures. Note that the following embodiments are byway of example only and not limitation.

1. System Configuration

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an example configuration of a printprocessing system (referred to below as simply the system) 1 accordingto this embodiment of the invention. The system 1 may also be referredto as a print management system. The system 1 includes a print managerdevice 10, an image processing device 20, and a printer 30.

The print manager device 10, image processing device 20, and printer 30are communicatively connected to each other through a wired or wirelessLAN (local area network). More specifically, the print manager device10, the image processing device 20, and the printer 30 are connected toa LAN 40 that is connected to the Internet 50, which is an example of apublic telecommunication network, through a router not shown. More thanone of each of these devices may be included in the system 1. Moreparticularly, multiple printers 30 may be included in the system 1.

At least one media server 60 that stores and serves information requiredfor operation of the system 1, such as printer 30 firmware FW and mediafiles MF as described below, is connected to the Internet 50. The mediaserver 60 may be configured as part of a cloud computing environment(e.g., a virtual server) that provides a cloud service through theInternet 50, or as a physical server. The media server 60 may beincluded in the category of a system 1.

The print manager device 10 and image processing device 20 may beembodied as a personal computer (PC) or a data terminal with theprocessing capacity of a PC, for example.

The print manager device 10 includes a controller 11, a storage 12, adisplay 13, an operation input unit 14, and a communication interface15.

The controller 11 is configured with IC (integrated circuit) devicesincluding a CPU (processor), ROM, RAM, or other type of memory. In thecontroller 11, the CPU executes operating processes according to aprogram using RAM as working memory to control the operation of theprint manager device 10. An example of such a program is a print managerprogram 16. The print manager program 16 enables the controller 11 tocontrol the print manager device 10 to execute a print manager process.

The storage 12 may be a hard disk drive, flash memory, or other storagedevice. The storage 12 may be part of the controller 11.

The communication interface 15 is a generic term for an interfacecompatible with a specific communication protocol enabling communicatingwith external devices through the LAN 40, for example. By workingtogether, the controller 11 and communication interface 15 of the printmanager device 10 function as a controller to control communication withexternal devices.

The display 13 is an example of a means for visually presentinginformation, and may be an LCD panel, OLED display panel, or otherdisplay device. The display 13 may include a display and a drive circuitfor driving the display.

The operation input unit 14 is an example of a means for receiving useroperations, and may be embodied by physical buttons, a touch panel, amouse, or a keyboard, for example, or the like or combination thereof.If a touch panel, the operation input unit 14 may also embody a functionof or may include the display 13. The display 13 and operation inputunit 14 together may also be referred to as an operating panel, forexample.

The image processing device 20 may include a controller 21, a storage22, a display 23, an operation input unit 24, and a communicationinterface 25.

The controller 21 may be configured with IC devices including a CPU(processor), ROM, RAM, or other type of memory. In the controller 21,the CPU executes operating processes according to a program stored inmemory (e.g., ROM), for example, using RAM or other working memory tocontrol the image processing device 20. The controller 21 includes animage processing program 26 as an example of such a program. The imageprocessing program 26 functions as a specialized RIP (raster imageprocessor) program that generates bitmapped raster data (print data) foreach color of ink used for printing by the printer 30, such as cyan (C),magenta (M), yellow (Y), and black (K). The image processing program 26may therefore be referred to as RIP software, and the image processingdevice 20 running the image processing program 26 as a RIP device.

A RIP is used to produce relatively high quality printed products. Forexample, print data is generated by a RIP for printing by or with highquality. Print data generated by a RIP may be used, for example¥, inlarge format commercial printers (LFP) such as used by printingcompanies. The basic configuration of the storage 22, display 23,operation input unit 24, and communication interface 25 may be the sameas that of the storage 12, display 13, operation input unit 14, andcommunication interface 15 described above. By working together, thecontroller 21 and communication interface 25 function as the controllerof the image processing device 20 for communicating with externaldevices.

The printer 30 is an example of and is configured as a network printer.The printer 30 may include a controller 31, a storage 32, a display 33,an operation input unit 34, a communication interface 35, and a printerengine 36.

The controller 31 is configured with IC devices including a CPU(processor), ROM, RAM, or other type of memory. In the controller 31,the CPU executes operating processes according to firmware FW using RAMor other working memory to control operation of the printer 30. Thebasic configuration of the storage 32, display 33, operation input unit34, and communication interface 35 may be the same as that of thestorage 12, display 13, operation input unit 14, and communicationinterface 15 described above. By working together, the controller 31 andcommunication interface 35 function as the controller of the printer 30for communicating with external devices.

The printer engine 36 may be a mechanism for executing the printingoperation on the print medium as controlled by the controller 31. Theprint medium is not limited to paper. The print medium may includeplastic film, fiber, and other materials to which ink or toner canadhere. In one example, the printer engine 36 is an inkjet printingmechanism that prints by ejecting ink or other fluid. The printer engine36 may include a printhead for ejecting ink or other fluid, a carriagefor moving the printhead in a specific scanning direction, a conveyancemechanism for conveying the print medium, and a heater for drying theprinted medium. Note that the printing method of the printer engine 36is not limited to inkjet, and other methods, such aselectrophotographic, may be used.

The system 1 is a system in which the image processing device 20generates print data from a user-selected image, and the printer 30prints based on the print data on the specified print medium. Images tobe printed may be text images created by a word processing program,graphic images created by a drawing program, photographs taken with adigital camera, or images read by a document scanner, for example, orcombinations thereof.

2. Media Table

A media table MT is described next. As shown in FIG. 1, the printmanager device 10 stores a media table MT in the storage 12. The mediatable MT stores information required by the image processing device 20and printer 30 to print on print media.

FIG. 2 shows an example of the configuration of the media table MT. Themedia table MT is a set of media files MF compiled for each printer 30in the system 1 that the print manager device 10 recognizes as amanagement target (is previously registered in the print manager device10). For example, the system 1 in this embodiment includes multipleprinters 30 identified by printer identifiers AAA, BBB, CCC. The printeridentifier in this example includes the model, IP address, serialnumber, and firmware FW version of the printer 30. Models xxx, yyy, zzzreferenced below are examples of the name of the model of the printer 30included in the printer identifier.

A media file MF is stored for each of the print media for the printer 30identified by printer identifier AAA in the media table MT shown in FIG.2. The print media is identified, for example, as aaa, bbb, ccc in thisexample. A media file MF is also stored for each of the print media,identified as aaa, bbb, ddd, for the printer 30 identified by printeridentifier BBB. A media file MF is also stored for each of the printmedia, identified as eee, fff, ggg, for the printer 30 identified byprinter identifier CCC. In other words, for each printer 30, a mediafile MF for each type of print medium the printer 30 can use is storedin the media table MT. The labels aaa, bbb, ccc, ddd, and so forth arelabels convenient for identifying a particular print medium, that is,identifying a particular media information MI.

One media file MF relates to one type of print medium, and is orincludes information relating the media information MI to imageprocessing information PI and print settings information SI. Thus, theinformation included in each media file FI and in the media table MT isstored relationally.

The media information MI includes various information related to aparticular print medium. By way of example, the media information MI mayinclude, one or more of the name of the print medium (media name), thetype of material the print medium is made from (media type), the vendorthat supplies the print medium to the market (media vendor), the size ofthe print medium (length, width, thickness), the modification date ofthe media file MF, and the name of the model of the printer 30 that canuse the print medium or the like or combination thereof.

The image processing information PI is information required by the imageprocessing device 20 to generate the print data for the correspondingprint medium. For example, the image processing information PI mayinclude one or more of a color profile, color conversion table, and adot allocation table or the like or combination thereof.

The color profile may be an ICC (International Color Consortium) profilerelated to the color reproducibility of the corresponding print medium.An ICC profile is information enabling precise reproduction of the hueof an image on the corresponding print medium in the color conversionprocess of the print data generating step, and has standardizedobjectivity in the field of image processing.

The color conversion table may be embodied as a lookup table (LUT) usedwhen converting the color expression of the image (such as whenconverting colors from an RGB (red, green, blue) color expression to aCMYK color expression), and is also defined according to thecharacteristics of the corresponding print medium.

The dot allocation table may be embodied as a table used in the dotdistribution process that distributes the raster data obtained by thecolor conversion process for each ink color the printer 30 uses forprinting (CMYK in this example) to dots of multiple sizes for eachpixel. For example, if the printer 30 is an inkjet printer that caneject three sizes of dots (large, medium, small) having differentweights of ink in each droplet, the raster data for each ink color isconverted to a dot-ON value or a dot-OFF value for each of the three dotsizes.

Describing the image processing information PI even more specifically,the image processing information PI stores information for each printmode that can be selected by the user.

FIG. 3 shows an example of a structure of image processing informationPI for printing on one type of print medium (in this example, a printmedium referenced by media information MI aaa) in different print modes.The user can select any of multiple print modes 1, 2, 3 to print on acorresponding print medium.

The time required for printing and the print quality change according tothe selected print mode may differ. In the example in FIG. 3, theappropriate number of passes, print resolution, ICC profile, colorconversion table, and dot distribution table are defined in the imageprocessing information PI for each print mode 1, 2, 3.

The number of passes is the number of times the printhead on thecarriage of the printer 30 moves over a specific area of the printmedium to print, and, basically, the time required to print and theprint quality increase as the number of passes increases. The requiredICC profile, color conversion table, and dot distribution tablebasically differ in each print mode, but may also be common to someprint modes.

The print settings information SI is information required by the printer30 to print on the corresponding print medium. For example, the printsettings information SI includes settings such as a temperature of aheater, parameters related to print media conveyance, the print mediumdrying time, a platen gap, which is the height from the platensupporting the print medium to the printhead, and a cleaning frequencyof the printhead nozzles, or the like or combination thereof.

By storing a media table MT as described above, the storage 12 of theprint manager device 10 may also be described as a media printinginformation storage unit that stores, for each printer 30, mediaprinting information (a media file MF for specific print media), whichis information relating image processing information PI required togenerate print data for a print medium, to print settings informationSI, which is required to print on the print medium. The media table MTthus established relationships between media information MI, imageprocessing information PI, and print settings information SI.

The media server 60 stores a media list 61 (see FIG. 1) in which aspecific media file MF is registered for various print media availableon the market. The media file MF for a specific print medium is createdby the media vendor of the print medium, uploaded to the media server 60through the Internet 50, and registered in the media list 61. The mediavendor provides information related to the vendor's print media to theentity (media server administrator) that manages and operates the mediaserver 60, and based on the provided information, the media serveradministrator may register the generated media file MF in the media list61.

The media vendors may include the suppliers (printer vendors) thatprovide the printers. The media vendors and printer vendors may also bethe media server administrator. There may also be as many media servers60 as media server administrators.

A media file MF, once registered in the media list 61, may also beupdated (modified) on the media server 60. For example, print mediaspecifications, and various information for improving print quality on aprint medium (image processing information PI, print settingsinformation SI), may be changed or edited. In addition, when thefirmware FW of the printer 30 is updated, the media file MF for theprint media that the printer 30 can use may also need updating. When themedia file MF is thus changed on the media server 60, when the changewas made is also reflected in the modification date stored in the mediainformation MI of the media file MF.

The print manager device 10 acquires the necessary media file MF fromthe media server 60 by the controller 11 executing the print managerprogram 16. More specifically, the controller 11 acquires the selected(desired) media file MF from the multiple media print informationrecords (media file MF) stored on the media server 60, and stores theacquired media file MF in the media print information storage unit(storage 12). The controller 11 accesses the media server 60 through thecommunication interface 15, and makes a request, from the media server60, for the media file MF corresponding to the print media that theprinter 30 being managed can use (said printer 30 referred to forconvenience as the specific printer). The media server 60 extracts themedia file MF meeting the request from the media list 61, and sends theextracted media file MF through the Internet 50 (or other network) tothe print manager device 10. The media file MF is thus downloaded fromthe media server 60 to the print manager device 10.

The controller 11 stores the downloaded media file MF relationally tothe specific printer in the storage 12 (as one media file MF related tothe specific printer in the media table MT). If the downloaded mediafile MF is not already present as a media file MF corresponding to thespecific printer in the current media table MT, the downloaded mediafile MF is added to the media table MT relationally to the specificprinter. For example, a media file MF for the printer AAA is storedrelationally in the media table for the printer AAA. If a media file MFthat corresponds to the same print medium as the downloaded media fileMF is already stored in the current media table MT as a media file MFcorresponding to the specific printer, and if the media file MF alreadystored in the media table MT has a modification date older than themodification date of the media file MF that was downloaded, the mediafile MF with the older modification date is overwritten with thedownloaded media file MF.

Several examples included in this embodiment of the invention aredescribed below based on the foregoing description.

3. Example 1 3-1. Downloading a Media File MF

FIG. 4 shows an example of a user interface 160 provided by thecontroller 11 that runs the print manager program 16. The user interface160 is displayed on the display 13, and the user, by operating theoperation input unit 14 or by providing input into the operation inputunit 14, can input to the user interface 160. Alternatively, the userinterface 160 may be displayed on the display 23 of the image processingdevice 20 connected to the print manager device 10, and the user, byoperating the operation input unit 24, can input to the user interface160.

The user interface 160 is an example of an interface for displayingrelevant information for each of multiple printers 30 managed by theprint manager device 10, and for receiving input from the user. The userinterface 160 in the example in FIG. 4 has three tabs 161, 162, 163corresponding to the three printers 30 managed by the print managerdevice 10. The number of tabs is determined by the number of printers 30that are managed. For ease of use, the tabs 161, 162, 163 display thename (xxx, yyy, zzz) of the printer model contained in the printeridentifier of each printer 30. The printer or printers 30 may beidentified in another manner. By selecting the tab corresponding to thedesired printer model, the user can view a window specific to any one ofthe multiple printers 30 that are managed by the print manager device10. In the example in FIG. 4, tab 161 is selected, and a window 164containing information specific to the printer 30 corresponding to thattab 161 (printer 30 of model xxx) is opened as a result.

In the specific window 164, a first media registration list 165, asecond media registration list 166, and a server access button 167 aredisplayed. A user wanting to acquire a media file MF from the mediaserver 60 operates (clicks or taps) the server access button 167. Whenoperation of the server access button 167 is detected, the controller 11creates a new media file MF downloading screen 170 (e.g., see FIG. 5),accesses the media server 60 through the communication interface 15, anddisplays a media list 61 on the display 13 (or the display 23).

FIG. 5 shows an example of a downloading screen 170. In one example, thedownloading screen 170 is a web page provided by the controller 11 or bythe media server 60. A media list 61 of the media server 60 is displayedin the downloading screen 170. The media list 61 indicates the presenceof a media file MF on the media server 60 by displaying items containedin the media information MI, such as the media vendor, media name, mediatype, model name (the model of printer that can use the print medium towhich the media file MF applies), and modification date.

The user selects a desired media file MF from the media list 61 on thedownloading screen 170, and then performs a specific operation todownload the file. When the download operation is received, the printmanager device 10 asserts or issues a download request specifying themedia file MF to be acquired from the media server 60. The media server60 receiving the download request then sends the requested media file MFto the print manager device 10. In the example in FIG. 4, a specificwindow 164 for the printer 30 of model xxx is opened, the downloadingscreen 170 is opened as a result of operating the server access button167 in the specific window 164, and the user can therefore select thedesired media file MF for model xxx from the media list 61 and downloadthe file.

Note that when, as in the example in FIG. 4, a specific window 164 forthe printer 30 of model xxx is opened, and the downloading screen 170 isgenerated as a result of operating the server access button 167 in thespecific window 164, the controller 11 requests, from the media server60, data for displaying only the media files MF corresponding to modelxxx from among the media files MF on the media server 60. In response tothe request, the media server 60 sends to the controller 11 data fordisplaying only the media files MF corresponding to model xxx from amongthe large number of the media files MF on the media server 60. Based onthe acquired data, the controller 11 displays in the downloading screen170 a list (a subset of the media list 61) of only the media files MFcorresponding to model xxx from among the media files MF on the mediaserver 60. As a result, the user, by selecting the desired media file MFfrom the media list 61 displayed in the downloading screen 170, caneasily and reliably download the media files MF corresponding to modelxxx.

A search tool 171 for finding a desired media file MF in the media list61 may also be displayed in the downloading screen 170. Based on thesearch conditions (media vendor, media type, model name, for example)input by the user, the search tool 171 acquires, from the media server60, data for displaying only the media files MF meeting the definedconditions. Based on the acquired data, the controller 11 then displaysin the downloading screen 170 a list (a subset of the media list 61) ofthe media files MF meeting the search conditions input to the searchtool 171 from among the media files MF on the media server 60. As aresult, the user, by selecting the desired media file MF from the medialist 61 displayed in the downloading screen 170, can easily and reliablydownload the media files MF meeting the search conditions.

The media files MF corresponding to the printer 30 (printer 30 of modelname xxx) downloaded from the media server 60 to the print managerdevice 10 are displayed in the first media registration list 165 in thespecific window 164 (FIG. 4). In the example in FIG. 4, the existence ofeach downloaded media file MF is displayed by presenting in the firstmedia registration list 165 the media vendor, media name, media type orother parameters contained in the media information MI.

In the specific window 164, media files MF in the first mediaregistration list 165 can be registered in the second media registrationlist 166 (FIG. 4). A media number is assigned to the print media in thesecond media registration list 166. The media number is, for example, aserial number starting from #1, and is a number convenient foridentifying, for each printer 30, print media that are only in thesystem 1 including that printer 30. The media number is not downloadedfrom the media server 60 as part of the media information MI.

For example, the user may select the media file MF to register in thesecond media registration list 166 from the files in the first mediaregistration list 165, and select the media number to associate withthat media file MF (such as media number #1) in the second mediaregistration list 166. The user then operates a copy button 168 providedin the specific window 164. In response to this operation, thecontroller 11 copies and displays the media file MF selected in thefirst media registration list 165 to the line corresponding to the medianumber selected in the second media registration list 166. In oneexample, the number of entries in the first media registration list 165may differ from the number of entries in the second media registrationlist 166. The order of the entries may also differ between the two lists165 and 166.

A first storage area and a second storage area are reserved in thestorage 12 of the print manager device 10. The first storage area (thearea actually storing the media files MF shown in the first mediaregistration list 165) stores the media files MF downloaded from themedia server 60. The second storage area actually stores the media filesMF registered in the second media registration list 166 relationally tothe corresponding media numbers. The controller 11 therefore executes aprocess of copying the selected media file MF stored in the firststorage area, and storing the file relationally to the selected medianumber in the second storage area. More specifically in one embodiment,the media files MF related to a particular printer 30 are stored in thefirst storage area and in the second storage area for each printer 30managed by the print manager device 10. As a result, the media files MFcorresponding to each printer 30 and stored in the first storage area orsecond storage area are the actual content of the media table MT (FIG.2). In another example, entries in the list may include pointers suchthat the media file MF is stored only a single time. Another copy of themedia file MF may be generated, for example, when edited.

3-2. Editing Print Settings Information SI

The user can edit the print settings information SI of the media file MFregistered in the second media registration list 166. The user selects,from the second media registration list 166, the media file MF (targetfile) in order to edit the print settings information SI, and executes aspecific operation to start editing. In response to this operation, thecontroller 11 displays, on the display 13 (or display 23), an editorwindow 180 for editing the print settings information SI in the targetfile.

FIG. 6 shows an example of an editor window 180. The editor window 180may include an editable input field 181 for specific parameters, such asthe media name (media setting name), in the media information MI of thetarget file, and editable input fields 182 for each of the editableparameters in the print settings information SI. By inputting to theappropriate editable input fields 182, the user can change (edit) thevalues (settings) of specific parameters. For example, the user can editsettings such as, by way of example only, one or more of the platen gap,heater temperature, parameters related to print medium conveyance, theprint medium drying time, and cleaning frequency or the like orcombination thereof in the current print settings information SI of thetarget file.

The user inputs or provides inputs to the desired editable input fields182, and then operates an OK button 183 provided in the editor window180. In response to operation of the OK button 183, the controller 11stops displaying the editor window 180, and updates the print settingsinformation SI of the target file stored in the second storage areabased on the edited content of the editor window 180 when the OK button183 was operated. As a result, the print settings information SI of themedia file MF selected as the target file in the second mediaregistration list 166 (the media file MF of media number #1 in thisexample) is edited. The controller 11 can therefore store the media fileMF in the same state as acquired from the media server 60 by not editingthe media file MF stored in the first storage area of the storage 12,and by editing only the print settings information SI of the media fileMF stored in the second storage area.

The print settings information SI stored by the media print informationstorage unit (storage 12) can therefore be said to contain the printsettings information SI after editing (post-edited print settingsinformation SI). An original copy of the downloaded MF may also bemaintained in some examples.

The controller 11, display 13, and operation input unit 14 of the printmanager device 10 can also be said to embody the function of an editingunit that receives edits of the print settings information SI, and theediting unit updates the print settings information SI stored in themedia print information storage unit (storage 12) based on the printsettings information SI edited according to the received editingoperations.

3-3. Synchronizing Printer 30 Print Settings Information SI

In this example, the print manager device 10 stores the print settingsinformation SI of the media file MF stored in the storage 12relationally to each managed printer 30 in the corresponding printer 30.In other words, the printer 30 has storage 32 (print settingsinformation storage) for storing the print settings information SIstored by the print manager device 10, and the storage 32 stores a printsettings information table 320 (FIG. 1) storing the print settingsinformation SI acquired from the print manager device 10.

In this case, the controller 11 sends the print settings information SIof each media file MF stored in the second storage area of the storage12 relationally to the managed printer 30, together with the mediainformation MI of the media file MF, through the communication interface15 to the printer 30. More specifically, the user operates an Applybutton 169 (FIG. 4) provided in the specific window 164. In response tooperation of the Apply button 169, the controller 11 sends the mediainformation MI and print settings information SI of each media file MFcurrently stored in the second storage area of the storage 12relationally to the printer 30 (printer 30 of model name xxx in thisexample) to which the specific window 164 with the Apply button 169corresponds, to that printer 30 (that is, printer 30 of model name xxxin this example). As previously stated, the media file MF in the secondstorage area may include edits and may be different from thecorresponding media file MF stored in the first storage area.

FIG. 7 shows an example of the print settings information table 320stored in the printer 30. The controller 31 of the printer 30 stores, inthe print settings information table 320 of the storage 32, thecombination of print settings information SI and media information MIsent from the print manager device 10 for each print medium that can beused. As described above, the media information MI in this example mayinclude information such as the media name, media type, media vendor,print medium size, media file MF modification date, and the model nameof the printer 30 that can use the print medium. However, all of thismedia information MI does not need to be stored in the print settingsinformation table 320. In one example, the print settings informationtable only needs to store information sufficient to identify the printmedium with a 1:1 relationship to print settings information SI.

In addition to media information MI for each print medium, the medianumbers applicable only in the system 1 of the specified printer 30 isstored in the print settings information table 320 in this example (FIG.7). In other words, when the Apply button 169 is operated, thecontroller 11 sends the media numbers, media information MI, and printsettings information SI of the media file MF currently stored in thesecond storage area relationally to the printer 30 to which the specificwindow 164 with the Apply button 169 corresponds, to that printer 30.However, the media number is not essential, and any information able toidentify a print medium, such as the media name, may be used.

The content of the print settings information SI for each print mediumthe printer 30 stores in the storage 32 (print settings informationtable 320) preferably matches the print settings information SI on theprint manager device 10 side. The controller 11 therefore synchronizesthe print settings information SI stored for each printer 30 in thestorage 12 with the print settings information SI stored by each printer30. As described above, when the Apply button 169 is operated, thecontroller 11 sends the print settings information SI of each media fileMF currently stored in the second storage area of the storage 12relationally to the printer 30, to which the specific window 164 havingthe Apply button 169 corresponds, to that printer 30. When the printsettings information SI of the target file (media file MF) stored in thesecond storage area for a particular printer 30 is edited as describedabove through the editor window 180, the print settings information SIthat is then sent to that printer 30 is, naturally, the print settingsinformation SI after editing was completed.

In other words, by sending and storing in the printer 30 the post-editedprint settings information SI in the storage (second storage area) ofthe print manager device 10, the controller 11 can be said to havesynchronized the print settings information SI on the print managerdevice 10 and printer 30. When the combination of print settingsinformation SI and media information MI (and media number) correspondingto the print media usable by the printer 30 is received by the printer30 from the print manager device 10, if print settings information SIcorresponding to the same media information MI (and media number) as thereceived print settings information SI is already stored in the printsettings information table 320, the received print settings informationSI is written over the print settings information SI corresponding tothe same media information MI (and media number). In other words, theprint settings information SI is overwritten when new print settingsinformation SI is received. If an entry is not present in the printsettings information table 320 for print settings SI received from theprint manager device 10, an entry is created as necessary.

In the process of the print settings information SI being sent from theprint manager device 10 to the printer 30, from the perspective of theprinter 30, the controller 31 may be said to synchronize the printsettings information SI stored in the print manager device 10 with theprint settings information SI stored in the storage 32 (print settingsinformation table 320). In other words, the controller 31 may be said tosynchronize the print settings information SI by acquiring thepost-editing print settings information SI from the print manager device10 and storing the acquired print settings information SI in the storage32 (print settings information table 320).

Note that when the OK button 183 of the editor window 180 is operatedand the Apply button 169 of the specific window 164 is then operated,the controller 11 may simultaneously update the print settingsinformation SI of the target file (media file MF) stored in the secondstorage area based on the edited content from the editor window 180 atthe time the OK button 183 was operated, and send the updated(post-edited) print settings information SI to the corresponding printer30. This configuration enables edits of the print settings informationSI on the print manager device 10 to be immediately reflected in theprint settings information SI stored on the printer 30 side.

The process of downloading media files MF through a special window ofthe user interface 160, correlating the downloaded media file MF to amedia number, editing the print settings information SI, and sending theprint settings information SI to the printer 30 (synchronizing the printsettings information SI) as described above is the same when the tab162, 163 (FIG. 4) for another printer 30 (a printer 30 of model name yyyor zzz) managed by the print manager device 10 is selected. Thecontroller 11 may also regularly check by communicating with the mediaserver 60, to determine if a media file MF for print media usable by amanaged printer 30 has been newly registered or updated in the medialist 61 of the media server 60. Based on the result of this check, thecontroller may automatically download relationally to the printer 30media files MF that have not been downloaded from the media server 60.

The printer 30 is not limited to being a passive recipient of edited andsynchronized print settings information SI. The controller 31 may alsoreceive, in response to a specific operation of the operation input unit34, requests for selected edits of print settings information SI storedfor a specific print medium (media information MI) in the print settingsinformation table 320. In other words, the process of editing printsettings information may be initiated at the printer 30. When such anedit request is received, the controller 31 may, for example, display anediting screen (printer-side editor) on the display 33 that isfunctionally comparable to the editor window 180 described above. Thecontroller 31 then receives, through the printer-side editor displayedon the display 33, desired edits of the selected print settingsinformation SI based on user operation of the operation input unit 34.

After inputting as desired to the printer-side editor, the user operatesan OK button presented in the printer-side editor, for example. Inresponse to operation of the OK button, the controller 31 stopsdisplaying the printer-side editor, and updates the selected printsettings information SI stored in the print settings information table320 according to the edited content on the printer-side editor at thetime the OK button was operated. As a result, the desired print settingsinformation SI selected by the user for editing in the print settingsinformation table 320 of the printer 30 can be edited.

The controller 31, display 33, and operation input unit 34 of theprinter 30 can thus also be said to embody the function of an editingunit that receives edits of the print settings information SI, and theediting unit updates the print settings information SI stored in theprint settings information table 320 stored by the print settingsinformation storage (storage 32) based on the print settings informationSI edited according to the received editing operations.

When print settings information SI in the print settings informationtable 320 is edited through the printer-side editor as described above,the printer 30 sends the post-edited print settings information SI withthe media information MI (and or media number) through the communicationinterface 35 to the print manager device 10. In other words, thecontroller 31 synchronizes the print settings information SI by sendingthe post-edited print settings information SI from the print settingsinformation storage (storage 32) to the print manager device 10. When acombination of media information MI (and/or media number) and printsettings information SI is received from the printer 30 on the printmanager device 10 side, the print manager device 10 writes the receivedprint settings information SI over the print settings information SIstored in the second storage area of the storage 12 relationally to theprinter 30 and the media information MI (and/or media number). From theperspective of the print manager device 10, the controller 11 may besaid to synchronize the print settings information SI by acquiring theprint settings information SI edited on the printer 30 from the printer30, and storing the received print settings information SI in the mediaprint information storage unit (storage 12).

The print settings information SI can thus be edited on either the printmanager device 10 or printer 30, and the edited results can besynchronized between the devices, in this example of the invention. As aresult, usability is improved for users that want to edit printer 30settings for specific print media.

3-4. Print Data Generating Process of the Image Processing Device 20

The operation of the image processing device 20 in the system 1 isdescribed next.

FIG. 8 is an example of a flow chart of the print data generatingprocess embodied by or performed by the controller 21 of the imageprocessing device 20 running the image processing program 26.

The controller 21 first acquires, in response to a user operation, imagedata indicating the image to print (step S100). The image data acquiredhere may be image data created by a program installed on the imageprocessing device 20, such as image data created by a word processingprogram or drawing program, or image data input from a digital camera,document scanner, or other PC, or the like or combination thereof, forexample.

The controller 21 receives a command specifying the printer 30 toexecute the printing process and the print medium to use for printing(step S110). The controller 21 may query the print manager device 10through the communication interface 25 for the managed printers 30 andthe print media each printer 30 can use. The controller 11 of the printmanager device 10 that receives the query from the image processingdevice 20 then sends the printer identifier for each managed printer 30,and the media information MI of the media files MF relationally storedfor each printer 30 in the storage 12 (second storage area) through thecommunication interface 15 to the image processing device 20 that sentthe query. At this time the controller 11 may send, in addition to theprinter identifier of each printer 30, and the media information MI ofthe media files MF relationally stored for each printer 30 in thestorage (second storage area), the media numbers of the media files MFrelationally stored for each printer 30 to the image processing device20. Below, the media information MI and media number related to a printmedium is simply referred to as the media information MI.

Based on the printer identifier of each printer 30 and the mediainformation MI related to each printer 30 sent from the print managerdevice 10 as described above, the controller 21 generates and displayson the display 23 a user interface (print conditions input interface)for inputting the printer 30 and print medium selections. Based on theprinter identifier of each printer 30, for example, the print conditionsinput interface may display for each printer 30 the model name, IPaddress, serial number, firmware version, or other information or thelike or combination thereof. Based on the media information MI relatedto each printer 30, the print conditions input interface may alsodisplay information about the print media each printer 30 can use (suchas the media name, media type, media vendor, media number). By lookingat the print conditions input interface, the user can therefore knowwhat printers 30 can be selected and what print media can be selectedfor each printer 30. Once the user selects a printer 30 from the printconditions input interface by operating the operation input unit 24, theuser can select the print medium from the print media that can be usedby the specified printer 30. The controller 21 receives theseselections.

Once the printer 30 and print medium selections are received, the imageprocessing device 20 acquires from the print manager device 10 the imageprocessing information PI corresponding to the specified printer 30 andprint medium (step S120).

In this case, the image processing device 20 sends the printer selectioninformation specifying the printer 30 and media selection informationspecifying the print medium through the communication interface 25 tothe print manager device 10. The print selection information may be anyinformation uniquely identifying the printers 30 managed by the printmanager device 10, such as the model name of the printer 30.Alternatively, if the multiple printers 30 managed by the print managerdevice 10 include multiple printers 30 of the same model, the printerselection information may include a combination of the model name, IPaddress, and serial number, for example.

The media selection information may be any information uniquelyidentifying the print media usable by the selected printer 30, such asthe media name. In this example, a simple media number is used as themedia selection information. When the controller 21 displays the printconditions input interface in step S110 as described above, the mediainformation MI for each print medium has already been acquired from theprint manager device 10, and the media number is included in the mediainformation MI. For example, suppose the user specified, through theprint conditions input interface, a printer 30 of model name xxx, andspecified the print medium of media number #1 from among the multipleprint media the printer 30 of model name xxx can use. In this case, theimage processing device 20 sends printer selection informationspecifying a printer 30 of model name xxx, and media selectioninformation (for media number #1) to the print manager device 10.

The controller 11 of the print manager device 10 to which the printerselection information and media selection information was input from theimage processing device 20 then reads the image processing informationPI from the media file MF stored in the storage 12 (second storage area)relationally to the printer 30 specified by the printer selectioninformation and the print medium specified by the media selectioninformation. The controller 11 then sends the read image processinginformation PI through the communication interface to the imageprocessing device 20 that sent the printer selection information andmedia selection information. As a result, the image processing device 20acquires the image processing information PI required to generate printdata appropriate to the specified printer 30 and print medium.

Next, the controller 21, based on the acquired image processinginformation PI, generates print data for the specified print medium(step S130).

In this case, by applying an imaging process based on the imageprocessing information PI to the acquired image data, the controller 21generates raster data (print data) for each color of ink (such as CMYK)used by the specified printer 30 to print. For example, the controller21 may apply to the image data a resolution conversion process accordingto the print resolution contained in the image processing informationPI, a color conversion process using the color conversion table, colormatching using a color profile, a dot distribution process using a dotdistribution table, and a data sorting process according to the numberof processes, and generate print data in the format ultimately suppliedto the printer 30.

As described above, the image processing information PI may includeinformation for different print modes (FIG. 3). When the imageprocessing information PI includes information for different printmodes, the controller 21 may display a user interface for selecting theprint mode on the display 23, and may receive the print mode selected bythe user operating the operation input unit 24. The controller 21 thengenerates print data based on the number of passes, print resolution,color profile, color conversion table, dot distribution table, and otherimage processing information PI corresponding to the selected printmode. In other words, print data optimized for the combination ofprinter 30, print medium, and print mode specified as desired by theuser can be generated. A user may not provide input for all settings andsome settings may be selected automatically or by default. Some defaultsettings may be based on other settings.

The controller 21 sends the print data generated as described above withthe media selection information specifying the print medium through thecommunication interface 25 to the specified printer 30 (step S140). Ofcourse, the media selection information sent with the print data in stepS140 is information indicating the print medium selection received instep S110 (in this example, the media number), and the printer 30 towhich the information is sent in step S140 is the printer 30 specifiedby the information received in step S110.

Sending the media selection information with the print data includes,for example, sending the media selection information attached or linkedto the print data, or sending the media selection information embeddedin the print data. The media selection information may be included in aheader, a file, or the like. Note that when a print data selection isreceived as described above when generating print data, the controller21, in step S140, may send print mode selection information specifyingthe selected print mode. That is, the print mode to use for printing mayalso be sent with (attached, linked, embedded, etc.) with the print datato the printer 30. The print mode selection information is informationincluding specific print mode content, such as the number of passes.

3-5. Printing Process of the Printer 30

FIG. 9 is an example of a flow chart of the printing process thecontroller 31 of the printer 30 executes according to firmware FW.

The controller 31 determines whether or not print data was receivedthrough the communication interface 35 from an external device (stepS200). If print data was received (step S200: Yes), the process goes tostep S210. The printer 30 receives the print data generated for theprint medium specified by the media selection information, and the mediaselection information, that the image processing device 20 sent asdescribed above.

In step S210, the controller 31 acquires the media selection informationincluded or sent with the print data, and reads the print settingsinformation SI corresponding to the media selection information (medianumber) from the print settings information table 320 of the storage 32.In other words, because the printer 30 in this first example stores aprint settings information table 320, the print settings information SIrequired for the printing process can be acquired without accessing theprint manager device 10 each time in order to execute the printingprocess based on the print data.

Next, the controller 31 sets the operating conditions for parts of theprinter engine 36 according to the print settings information SI read instep S210 (step S220). Based on the print settings information SI thatwas read, the controller 31 configures such parameters as the heatertemperature, print medium conveyance by the conveyance mechanism, theprint medium drying time, platen gap, and cleaning frequency or the likeor combination thereof. The controller 31 then passes the received printdata to the printer engine 36, and controls the printer engine 36 toprint based on the print data on the print medium specified by thereceived media selection information (step S230). In other words, byworking together, the controller 31 and printer engine 36 function as aprinting process unit that prints, on the print medium, based on theprint data using the settings defined in the print settings informationSI.

The controller 31 may receive print data including print mode selectioninformation from the image processing device 20. When print dataincluding print mode selection information is received, the controller31 controls the printer engine 36 to print in the print mode specifiedby the print mode selection information. For example, the controller 31controls the operation of the carriage and the conveyance timing of theconveyance mechanism of the printer engine 36 according to the number ofpasses in the print mode specified by the print mode selectioninformation. As a result, printing is completed by the printer 30specified by the user on the print medium specified by the user.

4. Example 2

A second example of the invention is described next. Note that thesecond and further examples are described below focusing on thedifferences with the examples described previously.

The printer 30 of the first example described above has storage 32 thatstores the print settings information SI required for the printingprocess, but the printer 30 according to the second example of theinvention does not locally store the print settings information SI. Morespecifically, in the second example, the print manager device 10 doesnot store, in the corresponding printers 30, the print settingsinformation SI of the media files MF stored in the storage 12relationally to the managed printers 30. Therefore, in the secondexample, the printers 30 do not store a print settings information table320, and there is no need to synchronize the print settings informationSI stored by the print manager device 10 with print settings informationSI stored by the printers 30. In the second example, there may be noneed to conceptually divide the storage 12 of the print manager device10 into a first storage area (first media registration list 165) andsecond storage area (second media registration list 166). In any event,for each managed printer 30, the controller 11 can assign media numbersidentifying the print media each printer 30 can use, and store the medianumbers in the storage 12. Also in the second example, the print managerdevice 10 can detect user operations and edit the print settingsinformation SI stored in the storage 12. The storage 12 may beconceptually divided, however, in the event that edits are maintainedseparately.

FIG. 10 is a flow chart of the printing process the controller 31 of theprinter 30 executes according to firmware FW.

Step S300 is the same as step S200 (FIG. 9). In step S310, thecontroller 31 acquires the media selection information received with theprint data, and acquires the print settings information SI correspondingto the media selection information from the print manager device 10. Inthis event, the controller 31 sends, through the communication interface35 to the print manager device 10, a request for the print settingsinformation SI together with the media selection information receivedwith the print data in step S300.

When the request signal is received, the controller of the print managerdevice 10 reads the print settings information SI of the media file MFcorresponding to the media selection information received with therequest signal, from the media files MF stored in the storage 12relationally to the printer 30 that sent the request signal. Thecontroller 11 then sends the read print settings information SI to theprinter 30 that sent the request signal. As a result, the controller 31of the printer 30 can acquire the print settings information SIcorresponding to the print medium specified by the media selectioninformation.

In step S320, the controller 31 sets the operating conditions for partsof the printer engine 36 according to the print settings information SIacquired from the print manager device 10 in step S310. Step S330 is thesame as step S230 (FIG. 9).

The second example thus enables the printer 30 to acquire the printsettings information SI required for the printing process based on thereceived print data, even without having a print settings informationtable 320, each time print data and media selection information arereceived from the image processing device 20 by acquiring the printsettings information SI corresponding to the print medium specified bythe media selection information from the print manager device 10.

5. Example 3

The third example differs from the first and second examples in that theimage processing device 20 stores an image processing information table220 (FIG. 1) in the storage 22.

The print manager device 10 stores the image processing information PIof each media file MF stored in the storage 12 relationally to eachmanaged printer 30 in the image processing device 20. In other words,the image processing device 20 has storage 22 for storing the imageprocessing information PI the print manager device 10 stores, and thestorage 22 has an image processing information table 220 for storing theimage processing information PI acquired from the print manager device10.

In this example, the controller 11 sends, through the communicationinterface 15 to the image processing device 20, the image processinginformation PI of each media file MF stored in the storage 12 (secondstorage area) relationally to each managed printer 30, together with themedia information MI of the corresponding media file MF, and the printeridentifier of the corresponding printer 30.

FIG. 11 shows an example of the image processing information table 220stored in the image processing device 20. The image processing device 20stores, in the image processing information table 220 of the storage 22,the combination of printer identifier, media information MI related tothe printer identifier, and the image processing information PI that wassent from the print manager device 10. The image processing informationtable 220, more specifically, stores the information contained in themedia table MT (FIG. 2) of the print manager device 10 minus the printsettings information SI.

When a media file MF is added to or modified in a media file MF (mediatable MT) stored in the storage 12 relationally to a managed printer 30,the controller 11 immediately sends the information that was added to ormodified in the media file MF (media information MI, image processinginformation PI) to the image processing device 20, and updates thecontent of the image processing information table 220 according to theinformation that was sent.

FIG. 12 is a flow chart of the print data generating process embodied byor performed by the controller 21 of the image processing device 20executing the image processing program 26 in this third example of theinvention.

Step S400 is the same as step S100 (FIG. 8).

Step S410 is basically the same as step S110 (FIG. 8), and thecontroller 21 receives the selections of the printer 30 to execute theprinting process and the print medium to use for printing. In this thirdexample, however, the controller 21 does not need to query the printmanager device 10 in step S410 for the managed printers 30 and the printmedia each printer 30 can use. Based on the information contained in theimage processing information table 220 stored in the storage 22, thecontroller 21 generates and displays on the display 23 the printconditions input interface described above.

When the printer and print medium selections are received, the imageprocessing device 20 reads the image processing information PI relatedto the selected printer 30 and print medium from the image processinginformation table 220 (step S420). In other words, in this thirdexample, because the image processing device 20 stores an imageprocessing information table 220, the image processing information PIrequired to generate print data can be acquired without accessing theprint manager device 10 each time print data is generated.

Next, the controller 21, based on the image processing information PIacquired from the image processing information table 220, generatesprint data for the print medium specified in step S410 (step S430). Inthis third example, the controller 21 can, of course, display on thedisplay 23 a user interface enabling the user to select the print mode,and generate print data based on the image processing information PIcorresponding to the selected print mode. Step S440 is the same as stepS140 (FIG. 8).

The configuration and processes of the printer 30 described in the firstexample or second example can be applied to the third example. In otherwords, the printer 30 receiving print data and media selectioninformation from the image processing device 20 having an imageprocessing information table 220 may have a print settings informationtable 320 as described in the first example, or access a print settingsinformation table 320 as described in the second example.

6. Summary

In the examples described above, the print manager device 10 includes amedia print information storage unit (storage 12) that stores, for eachmanaged printer 30, media print information (a media file MF for eachprint medium). The print information may be information relating theimage processing information PI required to generate print data forspecific print media and print settings information SI required forprinting on the same print media. The print manager device 10 can sendthe image processing information PI stored in the storage 12relationally to the print medium specified by media selectioninformation to the image processing device 20. Based on the imageprocessing information PI acquired from the print manager device 10, theimage processing device 20 generates print data for the print mediumspecified by the media selection information, and sends the mediaselection information and generated print data to the printer 30. Theprinter 30 receives the media selection information, and the print datagenerated by the image processing device 20 for the print mediumspecified by the media selection information.

The print manager device 10 can send the print settings information SIstored in the storage 12 to the printer 30. The print manager device 10sends the print settings information SI stored in the storage 12relationally to the print medium specified by the media selectioninformation to the printer 30.

Note that when executing the printing process based on the print data,the printer 30 may acquire the print settings information SI from aprint settings information table 320 stored by the printer 30, but theprint settings information SI stored in the print settings informationtable 320 is the print settings information SI sent from the printmanager device 10. Therefore, the print manager device 10 in the firstexample can be said to send the print settings information SI stored inthe storage 12 to the printer 30 in advance. The printer 30 prints basedon the received print data according to the print settings informationSI acquired from the print manager device 10 (such as through the printsettings information table 320).

In other words, the image processing device 20 generates print databased on image processing information PI corresponding to the printmedium specified by the media selection information, and the printer 30prints based on the print data using the settings defined in the printsettings information SI corresponding to the print medium specified bythe media selection information. As a result, a mismatch between theimage processing information PI used by the image processing device 20to generate the print data, and the print settings information SI usedby the printer 30 to print based on the print data (a mismatch betweenthe corresponding print media) does not occur, and printouts with goodprint quality can be produced. Embodiments of the invention allow printdata to be generated in the context of a specific print media and allowthe generated print data to be printed on the print media (or printmedium) for which the print data was prepared.

More specifically, the effect of embodiments of the invention isparticularly great in a configuration in which a RIP device (imageprocessing device 20) generates print data that is precisely colormatched to the characteristics of the print medium by color matchingusing an ICC profile, for example, and an LFP (printer 30) configuresprecise print settings (such as the heater temperature and platen gap)corresponding to the specific print medium before printing to output ahigh quality printout based on the print data. If the print medium forwhich the print data is generated differs from the print medium targetedby the print settings of the printer 30, the print data and printsettings are not optimally matched. As a result, a printout with thehigh quality expected by the user cannot be obtained. However, theexamples described above reliably prevent such a print media mismatch,and a printout with the high quality expected by the user can beobtained.

Like the image processing information PI, the print settings informationSI in the media file MF may be grouped according to the print mode. Morespecifically, in the media file MF corresponding to a single printmedium, optimized image processing information PI and print settingsinformation SI may be stored relationally to specific print modes 1, 2,3, and so forth. The media print information storage unit (storage 12)may therefore be said to store image processing information PI and printsettings information SI relationally to each printer 30, to each printmedium usable by a printer 30, and/or to each print mode usable forprinting. In this configuration, print settings information SI for eachprint medium and for each print mode can be sent from the print managerdevice 10 to the printer 30. As a result, when print data containingprint mode selection information is received, the controller 31 of theprinter 30 sets the operating conditions for parts of the printer engine36 and prints according to the print settings information SI appropriateto the media selection information and the print mode specified by theprint mode selection information.

7. Other Examples

The print manager device 10 may be embodied by a cloud server, and theimage processing device 20 and printer 30 may communicate through theInternet 50, which is a public telecommunication network. Thecommunications discussed herein may occur over one or more networks.

FIG. 13 is a block diagram illustrating another configuration of thesystem 1. The system 1 in FIG. 13 differs from that in FIG. 1 in thatthe print manager device 10 is embodied by a cloud server 70 connectedto the Internet 50. Like the media server 60, the cloud server 70 may beconfigured as part of a cloud computing environment (virtual server)that provides a cloud service through the Internet 50, or as a physicalserver. The media server 60 may be included in the category of a system1. The cloud server 70 and media server 60 may also be a common server.The media server 60 and the cloud server 70 may be integrated. In thisconfiguration, the storage 12 storing the media table MT is stored onthe cloud server 70 embodying the print manager device 10. As a result,if the image processing device 20 and printer 30 are connected to theInternet 50, required information, such as the image processinginformation PI and print settings information SI, can be acquired fromthe cloud server 70 when needed. The image processing device 20 andprinter 30 are therefore not required to store an image processinginformation table 220 or print settings information table 320.

This configuration also simplifies the process of providing common printsettings information SI to multiple printers 30 connected to theInternet 50, and the integrity of the print settings information SI canbe protected even if a problem occurs on a printer 30 storing printsettings information SI.

The image processing program 26 of the image processing device 20 is notlimited to RIP software, and may function as a printer driver thatgenerates print data and controls the printer 30 to print based on theprint data.

Functions embodied as software above may also be embodied by hardware.

The media list 61 of the media server 60 may also be distributed tousers recorded on a computer-readable, removable memory device oroptical disc, for example.

FIG. 14 is a block diagram illustrating another configuration of thesystem 1. The system 1 in FIG. 14 shows the print manager device 10connected to the image processing device 20 and printer 30, while theinternal configuration of each is omitted.

In FIG. 1 and FIG. 13, the printer 30 is a network printer connectedthrough the communication interface 35 to the LAN 40, and shared bymultiple terminals (image processing devices 20, for example). As shownin FIG. 14, however, the printer 30 is not limited to a network printerconfiguration, and may be connected directly (locally) through a cable80, for example, to the print manager device 10. The image processingdevice 20 is also not limited to the configuration described above, andmay be connected directly (locally) through a cable 80, for example, tothe print manager device 10. The security of the printer 30 and imageprocessing device 20 is improved by using a direct, local connection.The print manager device 10 in this configuration may be connected tothe Internet 50 as described above, or may be isolated from the Internet50 while storing the media table MT, which stores the media files MF foreach print medium required by the image processing device 20 and printer30.

In the configuration shown in FIG. 14, the image processing device 20may send print data and other information to be sent to the printer 30to the print manager device 10, and the printer 30 can receive the printdata and other information sent from the image processing device 20 from(through) the print manager device 10.

As indicated by the dotted line in FIG. 14, the print manager device 10and image processing device 20 may share the same housing 90. In thisconfiguration, the print manager device includes the image processingdevice 20 indicated by the solid line. The print manager device 10therefore stores both the print manager program 16 and image processingprogram 26. The printer 30 is connected through a cable 80, for example,to the print manager device 10 including the image processing device 20.Alternatively, the print manager device 10 including the imageprocessing device 20 may communicate with the printer 30 through theInternet 50. The local connections between the print manager device 10,image processing device 20, and printer 30 are also not limited to awired (cable 80) connection, and may communicate directly wirelessly inan ad hoc mode.

Embodiments of the invention being thus described, it will be obviousthat it may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to beregarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, andall such modifications as would be obvious to one skilled in the art areincluded within the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A print manager device comprising: a media printinformation storage storing media print information, wherein the mediaprint information includes information relating to image processinginformation used to generate print data for a specific print medium andprint settings information used to print on the print medium, whereinthe media print information is relationally stored to each printerconfigured to print based on the print data according to the printsettings information; and a processor that is configured to controlcommunication, wherein the processor is configured to: send the imageprocessing information stored in the media print information storagerelationally to a print medium specified by media selection informationto an image processing device that generates print data, and send theprint settings information stored in the media print information storageto the printer.
 2. The print manager device according to claim 1,wherein: the processor, when the media selection information and theprinter selection information specifying a printer are input from theimage processing device, sends image processing information stored inthe media print information storage relationally to the printerspecified by the printer selection information and to the print mediumspecified by the media selection information, to the image processingdevice.
 3. The print manager device according to claim 1, wherein: themedia print information storage stores the image processing informationand the print settings information relationally to each printer and toeach print medium the printer can use.
 4. The print manager deviceaccording to claim 1, wherein: the media print information storagestores the image processing information and the print settingsinformation relationally to each printer, to each print medium theprinter can use, and to each print mode that can be used for printing.5. The print manager device according to claim 1, wherein: the processorcan access a specific server through a public telecommunication network,and can acquire, and store in the media print information storage, thedesired media print information from among the media print informationthe server stores for each print medium.
 6. The print manager deviceaccording to claim 1, wherein: the print manager device includes a cloudserver, and communicates through a public telecommunication network withthe image processing device and printer.
 7. The print manager deviceaccording to claim 1, wherein: the processor stores the print settingsinformation stored for each printer in the media print informationstorage in the corresponding printer.
 8. The print manager deviceaccording to claim 1, wherein: the processor synchronizes the printsettings information stored for each printer in the media printinformation storage, and the print settings information stored on eachprinter.
 9. The print manager device according to claim 1, wherein: theprint settings information stored by the media print information storageincludes edited print settings information.
 10. The print manager deviceaccording to claim 1 wherein: a first timing when the image processinginformation is sent to the image processing device, and a second timingwhen the print settings information is sent to the printer, aredifferent.
 11. The print manager device described in claim 10, wherein:the second timing is more frequent than the first timing.
 12. A printercomprising: a processor that controls communication; and a printprocessing unit that prints print data using settings defined by printsettings information used to print on a print medium; the processor isconfigured to acquire media selection information specifying a printmedium, and print data generated for the print medium specified by themedia selection information, and is configured to acquire the printsettings information corresponding to the print medium specified by themedia selection information; and the print processing unit is configureto print using the settings defined by the acquired print settingsinformation.
 13. The printer according to claim 12, further comprising:a print settings information storage that stores the print settingsinformation stored by an external management device; the printprocessing unit is configured to acquire the print settings informationcorresponding to the print medium specified by the media selectioninformation from the print settings information storage, and isconfigured to print based on the received print data using the settingsin the acquired print settings information.
 14. The printer according toclaim 12, further comprising: an editing unit that receives edits to theprint settings information; the editing unit is configured to update theprint settings information stored by the print settings informationstorage according to the edited print settings information.
 15. Theprinter according to claim 14, wherein: the processor synchronizes theprint settings information stored by the management device, and theprint settings information stored in the print settings informationstorage.